Chapter 46 Bringing Out the Divorce Papers
Eliana turned to Samuel in shock, barely believing her ears. Just recently, he’d told Chloe they’d divorce after having a child. Now he was telling everyone he didn’t want children at all. So even if she was pregnant, he wouldn’t want the baby? Looking down, Eliana felt like someone was twisting a knife in her heart. She wanted to instantly disappear.
The dining room fell silent; no one dared speak. Charles violently swept his dinnerware aside, exploding with rage: “Samuel Nelson, say that again!” Even in his seventies, the old man commanded an intimidating presence!
Samuel replied calmly: “I said, I’m child–free. I’ll never have children Charles Nelson angrily threw his soup spoon at his grandson. Samuel dodged. Everyone jumped up, some calming Charles, others scolding Samuel.
“Sam, how could you upset your grandfather on his birthday!
“Sam, you’re the only heir to the Nelson family–how can you not want kids? That’s crazy!”
“Sam, apologize to your grandfather right now.”
“Sam, you know what children mean to the Nelson family. Who’ll inherit this empire if you don’t have kids?”
Samuel ignored them all and turned to Eliana, “Let’s go,” he said.
Still frightened by the old man’s outburst, Eliana kept her head down. When Samuel took her hand, she didn’t pull away, but simply followed him silently out of the dining room.
Charles shouted at their retreating backs: “Samuel, you’ll be the death of me! How did the Nelson family produce offspring like you? What kind of man doesn’t want children?” Then he started coughing; his anger triggering a violent coughing fit. Family quickly got up from their places at the table and rushed round to comfort the old man. Michael Sinclair had risen from his chair and stood to one side. Now he watched the couple leave, with a troubled, complex expression on his face.
In the castle’s front garden, Samuel led Eliana toward his car. Halfway there, she stopped and asked. “You haven’t really decided to remain childless, Samuel. Why tell everyone that? Are you worried Chloe won’t be able to have children after our divorce, and you don’t want the family pressuring her?” It was the only explanation she could think of. How else could Samuel, who once loved children, suddenly claim to be uninterested in becoming a father?
Samuel’s face darkened as he turned to her, “Yes,” he said, bluntly.
His confirmation felt like her heart was being torn to bloody pieces. Fighting back tears, she said, “In that case, let’s go home and get divorced.” He didn’t need her to have children anymore; he’d even planned ahead for Chloe. Was she not ashamed of staying in this fake marriage? She told herself. Eliana, leave now, leave this man while you still have some dignity.
They’d arrived at the car. Samuel didn’t hesitate, opening the car door, he said, “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Eliana sat in the back instead of her usual front seat. The whole ride home, she refused to cry, telling herself she was grown up now and didn’t need Samuel’s protection. Even without him, at twenty, she could work to support herself and her unborn child. ‘Stay strong, Eliana,‘ she thought, “don’t let him think you can’t live without him.” But it hurt so much. She was barely holding it together.
Through the rearview mirror, Samuel watched her struggling to stay strong. He said flatly, “Don’t worry, after the divorce, you can stay at Regal Garden Villa. I’ll move out.”
Somehow, Eliana managed to control her emotions until they got home. Once there, she sat motionless on the living room couch, pale as a ghost. Samuel went to his study. When he returned, he was holding divorce papers he’d prepared long
ago.
